DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: APRIL 2026 – CUTEST CREW

Welcome back to DIY Calendars for another month of hand-made desk top calendars. The crew has some beautiful spring designs for your pleasure and inspiration. My choice this month is the delightful Cutest Crew bundle.

  • Stamps: Cutest Crew
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Peach Pie, Smoky Slate, Granny Apple Green, Lost Lagoon
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Stamp Cut and Emboss Machine , Cutest Crew dies, Stampin’ Blends, Blending Brushes, Wink of Stella, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I gave the kittens a bit of a wash so they had a nice place to roll, and I added a little Wink of Stella because, well, Wink of Stella. I made the butterflies the same colors as the wash (Granny Apple Green and Lost Lagoon) so it would look properly planned.

5 kittens were a little long for the calendar page, so I trimmed off the leading feline and popped it under the month. I couldn’t leave it off altogether now, could I?

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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A BUNNY WITH A FULL BASKET!

  • Stamps: Easter Basket
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Petal Pink, Timid Tiger, Crumb Cake, Balmy Blue, Soft Sea Foam, Daffodil Delight
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Easter Basket dies (no longer available) , Stampin’ Blends, White Ribbon (retired), Stripes and Dots DSP (Demonstrator Exclusive) Stampin’ Dimensionals

This DSP is a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator exclusive – yes, we have perks! However, you can find an alternative. Our Color Family DSP packs deliver a similar tone-on-tone look. I layered a 1 1/2″ piece of Basic White card stock on the Timid Tiger Panel, then added the DSP above and below it. The lower piece of DSP is 1 1/4″, the upper piece is 1 3/4″

There are multiple bunnies in this set to add to the front, but the little chick is also adorable. This layout lends itself to different small images rolling through the middle!

I’m sorry to say that the Easter Basket dies have been discontinued. The stamps are still available, and the shapes aren’t difficult to fussy cut, so don’t be afraid to choose just the stamps!

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COLOUR INKSPIRATIONS #205: CUTEST CREW

The Colour INKspirations Challenges are some of the best in social media. It’s been a while since I’ve joined in, and I promised myself I would find a way to use Granny Apple Green, Berry Burst, and Basic Gray in a card for CI 205. The Cutest Crew birds flapped their collective wings and said “choose us, choose us!!”

This project is a LOT simpler than it looks 😎

I began by cutting a piece of Granny Apple Green Two Tone card stock from the Made With Sweetness Two Tone Card Stock Pack (go ahead, say that a few times.) I cut it a little longer than a normal panel for a card front – about 4″ x 6″ instead of by 5 1/4″. That gave me room to overlap the torn pieces. Then I tore it up. I LOVE DOING THIS. I alternated the sides and used Tombo Multipurpose Glue to fix them in place, overlapping the white core edges.

After that it was just stamp, color, assemble! I used a little Granny Apple Green ink on a Blending Brush on the Arch die cut. I colored the Cutest Crew Birds with Stampin’ Blends, and popped them up on dimensionals. I stamped some birdie feet across my card front panel before I added the layered arch, and I completely disassembled some of the metallic trim from a while ago and rolled it up into a little nest for the corner.

I put birdie feet on the envelope too, because why not?

Please visit the Colour INKspiration page to see all the CI#205 projects. And if Cutest Crew has caught your eye, I’d put it in my cart ASAP and buy it. It’s already gone to unavailable status once!

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WOOLLY SHEEP – AND TWO SIDES OF DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

If you’ve got a package of Traditions of Christmas DSP hanging around, you have a treasure, my friends! The flip side – “B Side” if you’re Old School like me – has fabulous tone-on-tone designs. It has a life beyond the holidays!

Happy Saturday, friends! Do you have last year's Traditions of Christmas languishing in your holiday stash? Languish no more - check out the "B-Side"!
  • Stamps: Woolly Friends
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Bubble Bath, Old Olive, Secret Sea
  • Accessories: Woolly Friends punch, Keeping Tabs punch, Traditions of Christmas DSP, Stampin’ Blends, 1/8″ Faux Linen Ribbon, Charming Shimmer Faceted dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

These silly girls are perfect for a Bestie Card. You know, that always-got-your-back, I-got-your-bail-money-sister friend? They’re telling secrets right now. You could easily make this into a birthday card, or even a welcome twins card.

Go check out the B-Side of your holiday DSP. You’ll be amazed.

I’m sorry to tell you that Woolly Friends is currently unavailable, but it’s expected in-warehouse on April 20th. This one is worth the wait! Use the “Notify Me” option – it works perfectly.

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CARD MAKING WITH THE LOVELY ARRANGEMENTS SET

I have a splendid problem right now – more stamps than I have time to stamp with! I’m blocking out time on my calendar just for crafting in the next couple of weeks. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!

The Lovely Arrangements set has simple, crisp floral images that are a dream to color with Stampin’ Blends. I used Petal Pink and Lemon Lolly for the blossoms, then stamped off Old Olive for the leaves.

Those die cut circles are a super fun feature in the coordinating dies – I’ve just used one row, but there are four! So many possibilities.

Of course, no project is truly complete without Stampin’ Dimensionals and Linen Thread. You can keep your raindrops on roses and all that. Sorry, Julie. 😆

All products are in the Online Store, although some are currently out of stock. Use the “Notify Me” feature to see when they’re available – it works really well!

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CHARMING DAY IN TRUE BLUES

The Charming Day stamps have left the Online Store, but the dies are still available. I’m sad to see them go (how often do I say that???) but when something leaves, it makes room for something new. And our March Online Exclusives are just begging to be released (they’ll be available on March 3rd)!

  • Stamps: Charming Day
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Cloud Cover, Misty Moonlight, Memento Black
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Charming Day dies, Stampin’ Blends, True Blue DSP (Product of the Month), Stampin’ Dimensionals

The True Blue DSP is still available as a Product of the Month selection. Everyone is allowed just one Product of the Month purchase for a given month, whether you’re a demonstrator or a customer. If you haven’t purchased True Blue, take a look! The threshold for qualifying for a Product of the Month is the same as qualification for Free Shipping, available through February 20th. It’s a fabulous double dip!

The good news is that even if you don’t have Charming Day, we have a LOT of gorgeous florals. Pick one and try this simple layout! Shop the Online Store.

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: FEBRUARY 2026

Hello there Calendar makers and enjoyers! We’re glad you’re here and hope you’ll enjoy our February calendars. This month, I’m using a number of stamp sets to create my calendar – and a brand new, not -yet-released tool! Tell me what you think:

I started with the line of hearts from Along These Lines, then decided they weren’t enough. Before I knew it, More Was More. Hearts. Flowers. Little Pink Dits. Doesn’t that say Valentines’ Day to you?? 😆

Those hearts are aligned with our brand new Stampin’ Positioner, available February 3rd. But wait, there’s more!

Join Stampin’ Up! and get your Positioner for free with your kit! Crafting is even more fun with community, and when you join my team you’ll enjoy all the perks that come with that, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, and so much more – plus a free Stampin’ Positioner. There are absolutely no strings attached. Message me and we can chat about whether or not this is right for you.

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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PEACEFUL GARDEN THIS OR THAT?

Can I tell you I LOVE the Peaceful Garden Designer Series paper? And this print in particular? It has that moody blue holiday feeling, but it transitions into so many other roles. Time for a good This or That!

The Christmas Words Hybrid Embossing Folder has every expression you can imagine. You can choose to use it as a background folder or add the die to the “sandwich” and cut each one out. I’ve added color with Cloud Cover Stampin’ Blends and it was very forgiving.

But then I turned the layout on its side and changed the sentiment – and I think it makes a lovely sympathy card. I really like the Linen Thread on this card.

So what do you think? Landscape or Portrait? Christmas or Sympathy? or maybe a mash-up? In either case, give it a try. It’s a quick and easy way to use that DSP stash.

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MAKING A CARD WITH THE TRADITIONAL WREATH EMBOSSING FOLDER

This holiday season, Stampin’ Up! has not one but two gorgeous embossing folders. You’ve seen the Peaceful Greenery Embossing folder – now say hello to the Traditional Wreath Embossing Folder!

  • Stamps: Seasonal Tags
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Shaded Spruce, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Traditional Wreath Embossing Folder, daubers, Circle Punches, Gold Stripe 3/8″ ribbon, Stampin’ Blends, retired red gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The easiest way I’ve found to add color to this wreath is to use daubers. Brush lightly and the raised images pick up the color, keeping the texture of the embossing. I colored the berries with Real Red Stampin’ Blends, and a few of them have a few sparkly gems from eons ago.

I love that this wreath isn’t so distinctively “holiday”. You could easily use it year around in other color combinations (stay tuned!) This is a 6″ square embossing folder. The entire wreath doesn’t fit on a traditional card front, but it works well as a partial panel.

The Seasonal Tags are a bit of a sleeper, so don’t let them pass you by. You’ll reach for them again and again!

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USING CONEFLOWERS WITH COLLAGE STYLE BACKGROUNDS

I love this coneflower image, but it’s big. It fills a card front pretty quickly, so I decided to focus on the background. After a few tries, I hit on the idea of a medley of background stamps. I had a pretty big mess on the my craft desk when I was done!

  • Stamps: Coneflower, Beautiful Motifs, Textured Notes, Elements of Text (retired)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Peach Pie, Timid Tiger, Old Olive, Pecan Pie
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Coneflower dies,Stampin’ Blends, Masking Paper, Stampin’ Dimensional

Both flowers are colored with Stampin’ Blends and cut with the Coneflower dies, but one is adhered directly to the card front and one is on Stampin’ Dimensionals. Is it even possible to make a card without Stampin’ Dimensionals?

I played with the layers for the collage for quite a white. I haven’t done much collage, so it takes a long time for me to find the color, shape and textural combination. There was a lot of trial and error, but isn’t that what crafting is all about??

Find yourself a nice big image and play with the background. Then come back an tell me how you did!

In the meantime, shop the Online Store.

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